5 Tips for hiring the best drone pilot or operator for the job
1. Certification
This is a big sign to the drone operators experience and knowledge of the aviation rules in the country. Specifically in Australia, drone rules are complex and illegal drone use can lead to hefty fines. Current drone certification in Australia by CASA includes the Remote Pilot License (RePL), Aeronautical Radio Operators Certificate (AROC) and Remote Operators Certificate. At Monument Media we hold both the RePL and AROC.
2. Insurance
Public Liability Insurance is a must when hiring a drone operator, no matter the job. Drones are becoming safer due to great innovation by industry leaders such as DJI. But accidents do happen, and technology can still malfunction – this means there is a very real public risk that can be associated with drone use. By following regulation and industry best practice, Monument Media has maintained a 100% safety record – but every flight is insured to ensure our clients peace of mind.
3. Past Experience
Ask for some past work they have done to showcase their flying skills and ability to achieve the highest image and video quality out of their drone. This also allows you to see their editing skills and gives you a better idea of what to expect as a final product. Read more about the process that we recommend and go through to ensure your satisfaction.
4. Tools
A drone operator when capturing images and video can only give you quality that their drone is capable of. We recommend a minimum quality of a DJI Mavic Pro. Personally, we use the DJI Phantom 4 Pro as our work horse, which captures stunning 4K footage and 20MP stills. We also have the ability to use the DJI Inspire 2 for shoots that require it. You should also enquiry about what lenses or filters the drone operator has. With the bright Aussie sun, a Neutral Density Filter is required for most shoots to avoid choppy and blown out video footage.
5. Upfront pricing
Make sure you know exactly what you are paying for and agree the details regarding what the final product should look like, what shots are expected and the number of revisions they allow during the editing phase. Make sure they use industry best editing software such as Adobe Lightroom, Premiere Pro and Photoshop.
